Sara Rahme
Model Coordination elevates civil design throughout the entire project lifecycle
Through Model Coordination available with Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro, Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson (JMT) brings engineers working in the vertical and horizontal realms closer together on projects. Clashes are reduced, collaboration is boosted between all team members, and designs can be completed faster and more accurately.
The tale of a modern civil designer
Shelby L. Smith is an innovative and hard-working design engineer with a deep passion for leveraging technology to advance her industry. With a keen understanding of the latest technological trends and a drive for continuous improvement, she combines her technical expertise with a forward-thinking mindset to push the boundaries of what’s possible. She is part of the Autodesk Expert Elite program, and you can always find her taking an active role in industry gatherings to push the civil engineering industry to new heights.
Shelby works for the multidisciplinary firm Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson (JMT), which provides various engineering, architectural, and construction management services in the United States with over 2,000 employees. Known for its commitment to delivering innovative and sustainable solutions, JMT serves public and private sector clients across various industries, including transportation, environmental, facilities, and utilities.
The firm focuses on a collaborative approach between all AEC stakeholders, combined with its emphasis on quality and client satisfaction, and has established itself as a trusted leader in the industry, dedicated to enhancing infrastructure and improving communities. Over the past decade, JMT has undergone a significant digital transformation to meet the needs of their clients and the evolving industry, and Shelby has been at the forefront of it.
“At JMT, I worked in the Special Projects department, primarily handling large municipal projects like transit facility headquarters and bus transfer stations for the Bureau of Public Transportation,” Shelby says. “But I have also worked on sanitary, storm, and utility design, touching all aspects and tools available in Civil 3D.”
Challenges of working across multi-disciplinary project teams
Design collaboration between civil and building design teams can be challenging due to the differing focus areas and technical requirements of each discipline. Civil engineers typically concentrate on site-related aspects such as grading, drainage, and infrastructure, while building teams focus on the architectural, structural, and mechanical components of a project. JMT’s facility projects highlight the need for collaboration tools to properly coordinate design challenges.
Coordinating these aspects requires clear communication, a shared understanding of project goals, and the integration of various design tools and methodologies. Misalignments in design priorities or timelines can lead to conflicts—such as the inability to translate design intent across disciplines, project delays, and cost overruns—making it essential for all disciplines to work closely together to ensure a cohesive and efficient project outcome in a complex construction environment.
Discovering the value of Autodesk Construction Cloud and Model Coordination
Being a part of the Design Center of Excellence, Shelby’s team focuses on design systems, software implementation, support, best practices, advanced design, and training. In her capacity, Shelby and her team sought early on to make the civil design workflow a more inclusive experience for everyone. While collaborating with the Revit teams at JMT, she discovered the Autodesk Construction Cloud, and especially the Model Coordination module, could bring tremendous value to her project teams.
“Setting up shared coordinates became a priority for me,” she says. “When we share models back and forth, all the data comes into place where it should be, which is crucial for ensuring alignment across design teams.”
Model coordination allows the team to be proactive about potential issues. For example, team members were able to note that a door’s location conflicted with grading and proactively communicated with the architect to move it appropriately, ensuring ADA compliance and better overall design. If unnoticed, this would typically cause construction delays in the field. With Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro and Model Coordination, communication is streamlined, and coordination meetings are more effective.
“On one project, we needed to accommodate 60 buses under one roof, create 4 maintenance bays, a circulation zone, an administration facility, a parking lot, and an on-site compressor station,” Shelby says. These types of projects require significant coordination and communication between the disciplines. With Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro, the design teams can more effectively share files and visualize the complete modeled design.
Designing 3D visualization: Fewer errors, less rework
The benefits of using Model Coordination go beyond collaboration. It aids in reducing errors, risks, and RFIs during construction.
“Seeing the project in 3D allows us to catch issues before they arise on the job site, ensuring that the design works in the real world, not just on individual models,” Shelby says. “Anyone can access the Autodesk Construction Cloud through the web interface to see all the models in one space. That overall model ensures everyone communicates and comes together so we can prevent errors that will lead to construction delays and budget overruns in the future.”
Another example Shelby cites is the modeling of corridors in Autodesk Civil 3D. On a recent project, she used Model Coordination to see the curb, sidewalks, and plaza in relation to the building and how they interacted. When there was a design change and the curbs shifted by eight inches, she caught an issue with a partition wall that conflicted with the grading and the need for a sidewalk ramp.
“Now I make container files to push up to Model Coordination,” she says. “I am able to see the model as I’m designing it. I can see the pipe networks, corridors, and surfaces as they’re intended. Take a waterline, for example, you don’t have to model a 45-degree bend that goes down. Sometimes, you can rotate that joint. It’s great to visualize that in real-time and see if it’s interfering with a sanitary or storm-water network.”
“We are moving towards a more cloud-based approach, and Model Coordination will be an integral part of our quality control process, ensuring that all design elements work together seamlessly before construction.”
—Shelby L. Smith, CIM Manager, Design Center of Excellence, JMT
Bringing the team along and effecting change
Every digital transformation must happen around three main pillars: Technology, Process, and People. While Shelby has figured out the first two elements, convincing more people in the industry to follow suit is her next challenge.
The pandemic accelerated technological adoption, reshaped the way we work, and forced people to look beyond their traditional design workflows. In AEC, a more unified design experience and virtual 3D visualization capabilities for horizontal and vertical design teams continue to be pressing needs.
“Using tools like the Autodesk Construction Cloud and Model Coordination allows the entire project team, especially those focused on the building, to see the factors affecting site design and understand the limitations and challenges involved,” Shelby says.
Learn more at AU 2024
If you are attending AU 2024 in San Diego, make sure to check out her sessions on these topics:
CES1747 | Revolutionizing Site Design: Harnessing the Power of Civil 3D Corridors
A case study by Shelby L. Smith
CI1052 | Unlocking Digital Transformation in Water Infrastructure
An industry talk by Trevor English and co-speaker Shelby L. Smith
MU4725 | Architecture, Engineering, Construction, & Operations Community Meetup
A Community Meetup with Jonathan Hand and Expert Elite all-stars Shaun Bryant, Dzan Ta, Shir Rustici, Shelby L. Smith, Kristina Youngblut, and Caoimhe Loftus
Additional ways to connect with Shelby at AU 2024 in San Diego
4856 | AECO Industry Keynote
The Autodesk AECO Industry Keynote, presented by Nicolas Mangon, Sasha Crotty, and Marta Bouchard, with special guest Shelby L. Smith
AU4922 | AU Orientation
Drop in to get the rundown on AU 2024 including content highlights and keynotes, sessions and activities, wayfinding and the mobile app, and recommendations for not-to-miss events.
Autodesk Community Zone
Visit the Community Zone to discover ways to become more involved with Autodesk, meet Expert Elites, and network with other industry professionals.
COM5215 | I’m New Here: AU Newbies Networking
COM5219 | Network with Women in Design and Make Technology
